"As long as I live I will labour to bring forward whatever may be serviceable VOLUME III. - 1 NEW-YORK: PUBLISHED BY GEORGE LANE, FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE CONFERENCE OFFICE, J. Collord, Printer. 1841. THE YOUTH'S MAGAZINE. MAY, 1840. From Smith's Life of Elisha. THE CURE OF NAAMAN. In one of those predatory wars in which the Syrians were engaged against Israel in the time of Elisha, a little Israelitish girl was seized and carried captive into Syria. She was probably of agreeable person and manners, and therefore was either purchased or given into the family of the Syrian general. Here she waited on Naaman's wife. Though seized by ruffians, and carried from her country, her home, and parents, God protected her, and conducted her to a place where, at least, her servitude was easy and her person safe. This young person appears to have been trained up in the fear of the Lord. What anguish must her pious friends have felt to be deprived of such a child in such a manner! How often was the fireside a place of tears, and how often would such friends commend their captive child to God in prayer! In her own country she had known the prophet Elisha. She was familiar with his history, and the wonderful miracles he had performed. Perhaps her father's house had been one of the places where he had been entertained, and she might have listened personally to his instructions. Beholding the sad condition of unhappy Naaman, she said to her mistress, "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria, for he would recover him of his leprosy." It was told Naaman what this little maid had said, and he appears to have gone and laid the matter be |